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At least 559 records · Page 31
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Panel Session 34: US DOE Featured Site: Savannah River Operations Office: 70 Years of Service

The Savannah River Site celebrates its 70. anniversary on November 28, 2020. On this date in 1950, President Harry S. Truman requested the Dupont Company to design, build and operate what was then known as the Savannah River Plant in response to the Soviet Union's detonation of its first atomic weapon, which set the Cold War into motion. During the 1950's, six South Carolina towns were relocated for the construction of SRS and by 1953, the 310 square mile site was complete. Nearly 40,000 workers were employed t build five nuclear reactors and support facilities, two chemical separations plants, heavy water extraction plant, nuclear fuel and target fabrication facility tritium extraction facility and waste management facilities. SRS played a key role in winning the Cold War and for seven decades, SRS has been a leader within the DOE complex. Today, the site supports environmental stewardship and maintains the nation's nuclear deterrent while ensuring the safekeeping and disposal of domestic and international nuclear materials. The site continues to support the nation's nuclear defense as it explores new potential NNSA missions. SRS has a proud 70- year history and looks forward to a future of service as a national asset and strong community partner. The session was kicked off with a video message from Secretary of Energy, Dan Brouillette, who thanked employees past and current for their efforts. The video also provided an overview of the history and future of the Site. This panel provided an overview of the Savannah River Site's 70 years of service (history, challenges, opportunities, and future) presented by the SRS's Senior leadership and the local Aiken, South Carolina Mayor. Panelists with presentations: US DOE Secretary Dan Brouillette's Overview of DOE and SRS - A Legacy of 70 Years of Service (Amy Boyette); 70 Years of Service (Michael Budney); 70 Years of Service (Stuart MacVean); SRS Liquid Waste (Thomas Foster); National Nuclear Security Administration (Nicole Nelson-Jean)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2020

Update to the Performance Assessment for the Savannah River Site Saltstone Disposal Facility - 20124

In 2019, Savannah River Remediation developed a revision to the performance assessment (PA) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Operations Office (SR) for the near-surface disposal of low-level waste at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF). Soluble waste from SRS Tank Farms undergoes salt processing to remove cesium and other high activity constituents. The low-activity decontaminated salt solution (DSS) is then immobilized by mixing it into a cementitious waste form known as saltstone. After mixing, the saltstone is poured into leak-tight concrete vaults, known as saltstone disposal units (SDUs), where the waste form cures. By the time of facility closure, the SDF is expected to consist of 15 SDUs with a combined capacity of 1.06 E+09 L (280 Mgal) of cured saltstone. The facility operates under a Disposal Authorization Statement (DAS) from DOE and a permit from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Since the start of operations in 1990, the SDF has received almost 6.7 E+07 L (18 Mgal) of DSS, resulting in the safe disposal of 2.7 E+16 Bq (7.3 E+05 Ci) of activity. Due to the radioactive decay of short-lived contaminants, the total remaining activity in the disposed waste is estimated to be approximately 1.4 E+16 Bq (3.9 E+05 Ci), as of September 2018. The Disposal Authorization Statement requires a demonstration that the system of engineered and natural features of the disposal facility will limit releases from the facility and be protective of human health and the environment for at least the next 1,000 years. The long-term performance of the facility was evaluated under the requirements of the DoE's Radioactive Waste Management Manual (US DOE Manual 435.1-1). Simulations were performed to demonstrate that the disposal facility would meet performance objectives specified in the manual. The evaluation was based on numerical models that simulate the releases of contaminants from the saltstone waste form. Contaminants were transported through groundwater and air pathways to points of assessment to evaluate compliance. In addition, the potential consequences of an inadvertent human intrusion (IHI) were also evaluated. In accordance with the guidance and recommendations in US DoE's technical standard for DAS, deterministic and probabilistic analyses were performed to demonstrate the SDF system, which includes the engineered cover system, the SDUs, the waste form, and the natural features of the site, provides a reasonable expectation that saltstone disposal will meet performance objectives. Post-closure doses to future members of the public (MOP) were evaluated; dose estimates from the air pathway were well below the 1.0 E-04 Sv/yr (10 mrem/yr) performance objective within 1,000 years, and the calculated doses to the MOP from all exposure pathways, including the groundwater and air pathways, were well below the 2.5 E-04 Sv/yr (25 mrem/yr) performance objective within 1,000 years. Doses following an assumed intrusion event within the facility boundaries were well below the IHI performance objectives, where the acute IHI dose was below the acute IHI dose performance objective of 5.0 E-03 Sv (500 mrem) and the chronic IHI dose was below the chronic IHI dose performance objective of 1.0 E-03 Sv/yr (100 mrem/yr) within 1,000 years. (author)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2020

Issue Resolution During the Development of the Performance Assessment for the Savannah River Site Saltstone Disposal Facility - 20125

In 2019, Savannah River Remediation developed a revision to the performance assessment (PA) on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Savannah River Operations Office (SR) for the near-surface disposal of low-level waste at the Savannah River Site (SRS) Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF). Soluble waste from SRS Tank Farms undergoes salt processing to remove cesium and other high-activity constituents. The low-activity decontaminated salt solution (DSS) is then immobilized by mixing it into a cementitious waste form known as saltstone. After mixing, the saltstone is poured into leak-tight concrete vaults, known as saltstone disposal units (SDUs), where the waste form cures. By the time of facility closure, the SDF is expected to consist of 15 SDUs with a combined capacity of 1.06 E+09 L (280 Mgal) of cured saltstone. The facility operates under a Disposal Authorization Statement from DOE and a permit from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SCDHEC). Since the start of operations in 1990, the SDF has received almost 6.7 E+07 L (18 Mgal) of DSS, resulting in the safe disposal of 2.7 E+16 Bq (7.3 E+05 Ci) of activity. Due to the radioactive decay of short-lived contaminants, the total remaining activity in the disposed waste is estimated to be approximately 1.4 E+16 Bq (3.9 E+05 Ci), as of September 2018. The Disposal Authorization Statement requires a demonstration that the system of engineered and natural features of the disposal facility will limit releases from the facility and be protective of human health and the environment for at least the next 1,000 years. The long-term performance of the facility was evaluated under the requirements of the DoE's Radioactive Waste Management Manual (US DOE Manual 435.1-1). Simulations were performed to demonstrate that the disposal facility would meet performance objectives specified in the manual. The evaluation was based on numerical models that simulate the releases of contaminants from the saltstone waste form. Contaminants were transported through groundwater and air pathways to points of assessment to evaluate compliance (i.e., 100 m from the SDUs). In addition, the potential consequences of an inadvertent human intrusion (IHI) were also evaluated. A number of issues were overcome during the development of these simulations. These issues were identified as part of internal technical reviews. Simulations are developed by people and people make mistakes, so the internal technical review process is a vital step in PA development. Specific examples of resolved issues include a unit-conversion error, an inappropriate definition for a model boundary condition, a model time-stepping issue, and an error in the calculation for the buildup of contaminants in soil. Actions taken to address these issues resulted in an improved product with a better supported technical basis and more defensible results. The identification and correction of these issues are discussed. By understanding these issues, model developers and technical reviewers working on PAs in the future may avoid repeating these types of mistakes. Transparency with respect to these mistakes builds trust between waste management sites, regulators, and stakeholders. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2020

Overview of Upcoming Process Improvement Efforts at the Saltstone Facilities at the Savannah River Site - 20474

The Saltstone Facilities at the Savannah River Site (SRS) process and dispose of low activity salt solution waste generated by other liquid waste facilities. Today in the Liquid Waste System (LWS), approximately 125 million liters of salt waste remain to be processed. The Saltstone Production Facility (SPF) receives the decontaminated salt waste, which is mixed with dry feeds consisting of cement, fly ash and slag to produce the saltstone. The mixed slurry is pumped to the Saltstone Disposal Units (SDUs) for safe disposal in the Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF). To support continuous Salt Waste Processing Facility (SWPF) operations at annual processing volumes many times higher than present, significant modifications are required to ensure that the SPF has the capacity to support the throughput of salt waste. These changes include several infrastructure upgrades that are being worked through the Enhanced Low Activity Waste Disposal (ELAWD) project. In addition to infrastructure upgrades, Savannah River Remediation (SRR), the Savannah River Site's Liquid Waste Contractor for the U.S. Department of Energy, has identified a flowsheet improvement opportunity of implementing a cement-free saltstone formulation to eliminate cement from the current three component formulation. This two-component formulation would simplify the procurement, transport, off-loading, and storage of the premix materials, and increase the storage capacity for the individual components. This flowsheet, when implemented, will reduce operational risk and improve throughput necessary to achieve disposal rates necessary for SWPF operations. Research has been completed to confirm the feasibility of this formulation, with the new cement-free flowsheet expected to be implemented in the next few years. Improvements have also been identified downstream of the SPF to increase SDU utilization. Specifically, a concentrated effort has taken place to raise the fill height in SDU 6 to the full disposal height, 13 meters, to maximize the usage of each SDU in support of the liquid waste disposal mission. This improvement has been made through additional thermal modeling and improved process understanding to create a SDU flammability model and control strategy more representative of facility operations. This work will allow for the completion of construction and operational readiness for SDU 7 while filling SDU 6 to ensure there is no lapse in available space once SWPF starts up. A summary of these improvements as they relate to increased throughput will be provided along with associated status. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2014

Dose Reconstruction In The Former Village Of Metlino In The Contaminated Techa River Region, Southern Urals, Russia - Paper 51

This work reports on the reconstruction of radiation exposure at the former village of Metlino in Southern Urals, Russia within the SOLO project (Epidemiological Studies of Exposed Southern Urals Populations) funded by the European Union. Metlino is located 7 km from the Mayak Production Association (PA) at an area of the Techa river that was exposed to a considerable amount of radiation circa 60 years ago. Today the Mayak worker cohort (MWC), the extended Techa River cohort (ETRC), and the Techa River offspring cohort (TROC), are amongst the most important sources of late health effects associated with low-dose rate exposure to plutonium, strontium and external gamma radiation. (authors)

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data and Scripts Associated with the Manuscript “Water Column Respiration in the Yakima River Basin is Explained by Temperature, Nutrients and Suspended Solids”

This data package is associated with the publication “Water Column Respiration in the Yakima River Basin is Explained by Temperature, Nutrients and Suspended Solids” published in EGU Biogeochemistry (Laan et al. 2025). In this research, water column respiration (ERwc) data, surface water chemistry data, organic matter (OM) chemistry data, and publicly available geospatial data were used in analysis to evaluate the variability in ERwc at 47 sites across the Yakima River basin in Washington, USA. In addition to this readme, this data package also includes a file-level metadata (FLMD) file that describes each file and a data dictionary (DD) that describes all column/row headers and variable definitions. The data package includes the data inputs, and outputs, and R scripts to reproduce all the analyses performed in the manuscript and create manuscript figures. The data package is comprised of three main folders (Code, Data, and Figures). The Code folder is comprised of four scripts and three analysis-specific subfolders that contain the R scripts to perform the analyses described in the publication and create publication figures. The Data folder is comprised of two “.csv” files and four subfolders that contain data input and output files. The Published_Data folder contains a readme that directs the user to download the appropriate files and add to this folder when using scripts. The Figures folder includes figures from the manuscript in “.pdf” and “.png” formats and a folder with intermediate figure files. This data package is associated with a GitHub repository which can be found at https://github.com/river-corridors-sfa/rcsfa-RC2-SPS-ERwc. We acknowledge the Yakama Nation as owners and caretakers of the lands where we collected some of these data. We thank the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation Tribal Council and Yakama Nation Fisheries for working with us to facilitate sample collection and optimization of data usage according to their values and worldview.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

Shallow-Water Habitat in the Lower Columbia River Estuary: A Highly Altered System

Abstract Decreases in shallow-water habitat area (SWHA) in the Lower Columbia River and Estuary (LCRE) have adversely affected salmonid populations. We investigate the causes by hindcasting SWHA from 1928 to 2004, system-wide, based on daily higher high water (HHW) and system hypsometry. Physics-based regression models are used to represent HHW along the system as a function of river inflow, tides, and coastal processes, and hypsometry is used to estimate the associated SWHA. Scenario modeling is employed to attribute SWHA losses to levees, flow regulation, diversion, navigational development, and climate-induced hydrologic change, for subsidence scenarios of up to 2 m, and for 0.5 m fill. For zero subsidence, the system-wide annual-average loss of SWHA is 55 ± 5%, or 51 × 10 5 ha/year; levees have caused the largest decrease ( $${54}_{-14}^{+5}$$ 54 - 14 + 5 %, or ~ 50 × 10 5 ha/year). The loss in SWHA due to operation of the hydropower system is small, but spatially and seasonally variable. During the spring freshet critical to juvenile salmonids, the total SWHA loss was $${63}_{-3}^{+2}$$ 63 - 3 + 2 %, with the hydropower system causing losses of 5–16% (depending on subsidence). Climate change and navigation have caused SWHA losses of $${5}_{-5}^{+16}$$ 5 - 5 + 16 % and $${4}_{-6}^{+14}$$ 4 - 6 + 14 %, respectively, but with high spatial variability; irrigation impacts have been small. Uncertain subsidence causes most of the uncertainty in estimates; the sum of the individual factors exceeds the total loss, because factors interact. Any factor that reduces mean or peak flows (reservoirs, diversion, and climate change) or alters tides and along-channel slope (navigation) becomes more impactful as assumed historical elevations are increased to account for subsidence, while levees matter less.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Reference Model 2 Cost Breakdown (RM2: River Current Turbine)

Contains the Reference Model 2 (RM2) spreadsheets with the cost breakdown structure (CBS) for the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) calculations for a single RM2 device and multiple unit arrays. These spreadsheets are contained within an XLSX file and a spreadsheet editor such as Microsoft Excel is needed to open the file. This data was generated upon completion of the project on September 30, 2014. The Reference Model Project (RMP), sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), was a partnered effort to develop open-source MHK point designs as reference models (RMs) to benchmark MHK technology performance and costs, and an open-source methodology for design and analysis of MHK technologies, including models for estimating their capital costs, operational costs, and levelized costs of energy. The point designs also served as open-source test articles for university researchers and commercial technology developers. The RMP project team, led by Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), included a partnership between DOE, three national laboratories, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the Applied Research Laboratory of Penn State University, and Re Vision Consulting. Reference Model 2 (RM2) is a variable speed dual-rotor cross-flow river turbine that is deployed at the water?s surface. It was designed for deployment at a reference site modeled after a reach in the Mississippi River near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The rotors are anchored to a two-pontoon vessel platform. Surface deployment of the turbine minimizes the handling requirements during deployment and recovery and reduces overall costs for all O&M activities, including allowing for easy access to the power conversion chain (PCC). The design (two rotors per platform) also reduces the environmental footprint and associated environmental compliance costs.

16 TIDAL AND WAVE POWER↗
DOE OSTI2019

WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the Nisqually River, WA

This dataset is from a sampling campaign completed over the course of 48 hours to investigate the effects of glacial freeze/thaw cycle-induced water level variation on aqueous chemistry, dissolved organic matter chemistry, and metabolic potential of microbial communities at the Nisqually River, WA, USA. Filtered surface water (SW) and pore water (PP) samples were collected every three hours in August 2018. This dataset is one of seven companion datasets that were part of the WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study of freshwater rivers. All seven datasets are available on ESS-DIVE; they can be found by searching for WHONDRS 48 Hour.This package contains a variety of chemical and hydrologic variables. All data types are provided in a standard format. Basic geochemistry analyses (e.g., non-purgeable organic carbon concentration, cations, anions, SpC, pH) were conducted, standardized photos were taken, surface water hydrographs were collated from existing instrumentation, and extensive metadata were captured. Aqueous chemistry variables include USGS codes in the first portion of the variable name (e.g., 00940_Cl_mg_per_L). These codes allow for interoperability with USGS water quality data. In addition, samples were delivered to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory) for high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The data package contains instructions to process the FTICR data based on the user’s specific needs, and sample-level summary indices derived from the FTICR data will be added to the data package. Beyond the data in this data package, metagenomic data are being generated on associated microbial communities. When these data are available, the data package will be updated with information on accessing them. Please contact WHONDRS@pnnl.gov for more information. Please use the data package’s DOI to cite the data package. We ask that you email us at WHONDRS@pnnl.gov to let us know that you're using the data and acknowledge WHONDRS and the U.S. Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program—which generously provides funding to WHONDRS—in your publications, proposals, presentations, etc. All data are free to be used for any purpose, such as for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals. Note that the included hydrograph has a separate DOI that should also be cited. There is no obligation to include WHONDRS members as co-authors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the Erpe River, Germany

This dataset is from a sampling campaign completed over the course of 48 hours to investigate the effects of wastewater treatment plant effluent induced water level variation on aqueous chemistry, dissolved organic matter chemistry, and metabolic potential of microbial communities at the Erpe River, Germany. Filtered surface water (SW) and pore water (PP) samples were collected every three hours in September 2018. This dataset is one of seven companion datasets that were part of the WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study of freshwater rivers. All seven datasets are available on ESS-DIVE; they can be found by searching for WHONDRS 48 Hour.This package contains a variety of chemical and hydrologic variables. All data types are provided in a standard format. Basic geochemistry analyses (e.g., non-purgeable organic carbon concentration, cations, anions, SpC, pH) were conducted, standardized photos were taken, surface water hydrographs were collated from existing instrumentation, and extensive metadata were captured. Aqueous chemistry variables include USGS codes in the first portion of the variable name (e.g., 00940_Cl_mg_per_L). These codes allow for interoperability with USGS water quality data. In addition, samples were delivered to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory) for high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The data package contains instructions to process the FTICR data based on the user’s specific needs, and sample-level summary indices derived from the FTICR data will be added to the data package. Beyond the data in this data package, metagenomic data are being generated on associated microbial communities. When these data are available, the data package will be updated with information on accessing them. Please contact WHONDRS@pnnl.gov for more information. Please use the data package’s DOI to cite the data package. We ask that you email us at WHONDRS@pnnl.gov to let us know that you're using the data and acknowledge WHONDRS and the U.S. Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program—which generously provides funding to WHONDRS—in your publications, proposals, presentations, etc. All data are free to be used for any purpose, such as for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals. There is no obligation to include WHONDRS members as co-authors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the Altamaha River in Georgia, USA

This dataset is from a sampling campaign completed over the course of 48 hours to investigate the effects of tidally induced water level variation on aqueous chemistry, dissolved organic matter chemistry, and metabolic potential of microbial communities at the Altamaha River, GA, USA. Filtered surface water (SW) and pore water (PP) samples were collected every three hours in October 2018. This dataset is one of seven companion datasets that were part of the WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study of freshwater rivers. All seven datasets are available on ESS-DIVE; they can be found by searching for WHONDRS 48 Hour. This package contains a variety of chemical and hydrologic variables. All data types are provided in a standard format. Basic geochemistry analyses (e.g., non-purgeable organic carbon concentration, cations, anions, SpC, pH) were conducted, standardized photos were taken, surface water hydrographs were collated from existing instrumentation, and extensive metadata were captured. Aqueous chemistry variables include USGS codes in the first portion of the variable name (e.g., 00940_Cl_mg_per_L). These codes allow for interoperability with USGS water quality data. In addition, samples were delivered to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory) for high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The data package contains instructions to process the FTICR data based on the user’s specific needs, and sample-level summary indices derived from the FTICR data will be added to the data package. Beyond the data in this data package, metagenomic data are being generated on associated microbial communities. When these data are available, the data package will be updated with information on accessing them. Please contact WHONDRS@pnnl.gov for more information. Please use the data package’s DOI to cite the data package. We ask that you email us at WHONDRS@pnnl.gov to let us know that you're using the data and acknowledge WHONDRS and the U.S. Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program—which generously provides funding to WHONDRS—in your publications, proposals, presentations, etc. All data are free to be used for any purpose, such as for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals. Note that the included hydrograph has a separate DOI that should also be cited. There is no obligation to include WHONDRS members as co-authors. Please note that this data package was originally published in November 2019. It was updated in July 2020. See the readme file in the data package for details. None of the data values were altered. The units were updated in one column of the main metadata file and in one of the methods codes descriptions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the Columbia River in Washington, USA

This dataset is from a sampling campaign completed over the course of 48 hours to investigate the effects of the upstream Priest Rapids Dam-induced water level variation on aqueous chemistry, dissolved organic matter chemistry, and metabolic potential of microbial communities at the Columbia River, WA, USA. Filtered surface water (SW) and pore water (PP) samples were collected every three hours in August 2018. This dataset is one of seven companion datasets that were part of the WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study of freshwater rivers. All seven datasets are available on ESS-DIVE; they can be found by searching for WHONDRS 48 Hour.This package contains a variety of chemical and hydrologic variables. All data types are provided in a standard format. Basic geochemistry analyses (e.g., non-purgeable organic carbon concentration, cations, anions, SpC, pH) were conducted, standardized photos were taken, surface water hydrographs were collated from existing instrumentation, and extensive metadata were captured. Aqueous chemistry variables include USGS codes in the first portion of the variable name (e.g., 00940_Cl_mg_per_L). These codes allow for interoperability with USGS water quality data. In addition, samples were delivered to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory) for high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The data package contains instructions to process the FTICR data based on the user’s specific needs, and sample-level summary indices derived from the FTICR data will be added to the data package. Beyond the data in this data package, metagenomic data are being generated on associated microbial communities. When these data are available, the data package will be updated with information on accessing them. Please contact WHONDRS@pnnl.gov for more information. Please use the data package’s DOI to cite the data package. We ask that you email us at WHONDRS@pnnl.gov to let us know that you're using the data and acknowledge WHONDRS and the U.S. Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program—which generously provides funding to WHONDRS—in your publications, proposals, presentations, etc. All data are free to be used for any purpose, such as for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals. There is no obligation to include WHONDRS members as co-authors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study at the Jordan River, Israel

This dataset is from a sampling campaign completed over the course of 48 hours to investigate the effects of groundwater pumping induced water level variation on aqueous chemistry, dissolved organic matter chemistry, and metabolic potential of microbial communities at the Jordan River, Israel. Filtered surface water (SW) and pore water (PP) samples were collected every three hours in August 2018. This dataset is one of seven companion datasets that were part of the WHONDRS 48 Hour Diel Cycling Study of freshwater rivers. All seven datasets are available on ESS-DIVE; they can be found by searching for WHONDRS 48 Hour.This package contains a variety of chemical and hydrologic variables. All data types are provided in a standard format. Basic geochemistry analyses (e.g., non-purgeable organic carbon concentration, cations, anions, SpC, pH) were conducted, standardized photos were taken, surface water hydrographs were collated from existing instrumentation, and extensive metadata were captured. Aqueous chemistry variables include USGS codes in the first portion of the variable name (e.g., 00940_Cl_mg_per_L). These codes allow for interoperability with USGS water quality data. In addition, samples were delivered to the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL; https://www.pnnl.gov/environmental-molecular-sciences-laboratory) for high resolution characterization of dissolved organic matter via 12 Tesla Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR-MS). The data package contains instructions to process the FTICR data based on the user’s specific needs, and sample-level summary indices derived from the FTICR data will be added to the data package. Beyond the data in this data package, metagenomic data are being generated on associated microbial communities. When these data are available, the data package will be updated with information on accessing them. Please contact WHONDRS@pnnl.gov for more information. Please use the data package’s DOI to cite the data package. We ask that you email us at WHONDRS@pnnl.gov to let us know that you're using the data and acknowledge WHONDRS and the U.S. Department of Energy's Subsurface Biogeochemical Research program—which generously provides funding to WHONDRS—in your publications, proposals, presentations, etc. All data are free to be used for any purpose, such as for manuscripts, presentations, and grant proposals. There is no obligation to include WHONDRS members as co-authors.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Tank 11H Low Temperature Aluminum Dissolution and Inhalation Dose Potential Analyses at Savannah River Site – 26018

Currently, there is approximately 34 million gallons of high-level radioactive tank waste in the Tank Farm at the Savannah River Site (SRS). The ultimate goal of operations at the Tank Farm is to remove the high level waste (HLW) from the tanks followed by stabilization of the waste through vitrification of the HLW into glass or grouting the decontaminated waste into saltstone. After bulk removal of the HLW consisting of sludge, saltcake, and supernatant, further efforts are made to reduce the residual waste present in the tank in order to declare preliminary cease waste removal (PCWR) signifying completion of HLW removal. These reduction efforts can include tank washing to remove soluble salts and radioisotopes and dissolution of solids including aluminum. Aluminum in the form of gibbsite and boehmite is relatively insoluble in water. Through addition of aqueous sodium hydroxide, the aluminum can be dissolved at mild temperatures. In order for the waste tank to meet closure mode requirements of the Concentration, Storage, and Transfer Facilities (CSTF), which includes the Tank Farm, Documented Safety Analysis (DSA), a component of the safety basis, the inhalation dose potential (IDP) and the radiolytic hydrogen generation rate of the stored waste must be demonstrated to be lower than their respective designated limits. These parameters are calculated from measured radiochemical analyses of isotopes that emit a high amount of radioactivity including Cs-137, Sr-90, Pu-238, Pu-239, Pu-240, Pu-241, Am-241, and Cm-244. Following the low temperature aluminum dissolution (LTAD) process, Tank 11H slurry samples were pulled from the tank and sent to Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) to measure the extent of aluminum dissolution, hydroxide concentration, densities of slurry and supernatant, weight percent solids analyses, and radionuclide activities. The analyses of the composite sample found that approximately 90% of the total aluminum in the slurry was dissolved, indicating successful reduction of the insoluble aluminum in the waste tank. Additionally, the weight percent insoluble solids (slurry basis) measurement of the composite sample was found to be approximately 1%, demonstrating that minimal solids still remain in the tank. Finally, the radiochemical analyses of the composite sample determined that the waste contents of the tank met the IDP and radiolytic hydrogen generation rate requirements of the CSTF DSA. These measurements have shown that the LTAD process in Tank 11H was successful in waste reduction efforts and a positive step towards declaring PCWR and tank closure at SRS.

Dekarske, John [Savannah River National Laboratory↗
DOE OSTI2022

A machine learning approach to water quality forecasts and sensor network expansion: Case study in the Wabash River Basin, United States

Abstract Midwestern cities require forecasts of surface nitrate loads to bring additional treatment processes online or activate alternative water supplies. Concurrently, networks of nitrate monitoring stations are being deployed in river basins, co‐locating water quality observations with established stream gauges. However, tools to evaluate the future value of expanded networks to improve water quality forecasts remains challenging. Here, we construct a synthetic data set of stream discharge and nitrate for the Wabash River Basin—one of the United States’ most nutrient polluted basins—using the established Agro‐IBIS and THMB models. Synthetic data enables rapid, unbiased and low‐cost assessment of potential sensor placements to support management objectives, such as near‐term forecasting. Using the synthetic data, we established baseline 1‐day forecasts for surface water nitrate at 12 cities in the basin using support vector machine regression (SVMR; RMSE 0.48–3.3 ppm). Next, we used the SVMRs to evaluate the improvement in forecast performance associated with deployment of additional nitrate sensors. We identified the optimal sensor placement to improve forecasts at each city, and the relative value of sensors at each candidate location. Finally, we assessed the co‐benefit realized by other cities when a sensor is deployed to optimize a forecast at one city, finding significant positive externalities in all cases. Ultimately, our study explores the potential for machine learning to make near‐term predictions and critically evaluate the improvement realized by expanding a monitoring network. While we use nitrate pollution in the Wabash River Basin as a case study, this approach could be readily applied to any problem where the future value of sensors and network design are being evaluated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2019

Changes in Fish Assemblages at the Mirror Lake Complex in the Lower Columbia River Before and After a Culvert Modification

Abstract Changes in fish assemblages were examined before and after a culvert was modified to improve the fish passage at the Mirror Lake Complex (MLC), located along the Columbia River Gorge, Oregon. Conditions at the culvert limited water flow between the Columbia River and the MLC during certain portions of the year; thus, the outlet and interior of the culvert were modified to improve fish passage. Prior to the culvert modification, three sites were sampled monthly between April and August 2008, 5.0 km and 0.5 km upstream of the culvert and immediately downstream of the culvert. Following the culvert modification in the late summer of 2008, the same sites were sampled from 2009 to 2012, with two additional sites added in 2010. Prior to the culvert modification, the lower sites (i.e., the sites closest to the Columbia River) supported native and nonnative fish species, while the upper sites were dominated by native species. During the 4 years of monitoring after culvert modification, these distinctions between the upper and lower sites remained. A significant increase in water temperature and species richness was observed at the site just upstream of the culvert, but other changes in fish composition (density, diversity, percent of nonnative species) were not observed. However, at the upper sites, while nonnative species were absent before culvert modification, they were present after modification. Modifications made at the culvert, in combination with seasonal variation in water level and water temperature, may have influenced fish communities in the MLC. Given predicted regional and global climatic changes, our study indicates the importance of long-term monitoring of restoration sites for the presence of nonnative species and the effects of environmental variables, such as water temperature.

Sol, Sean Y.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Retracted: Monitoring Hatchery Broodstock Composition and Genetic Variation of Spring/Summer Chinook Salmon in the Columbia River Basin with Multigeneration Pedigrees

Abstract Hatchery production of Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Columbia River basin comprises most of the anadromous salmonid production in this region. Hatchery facilities and programs serve to mitigate for impacts to salmonids due to the construction and operation of hydropower dams and habitat impacts from development in addition to the conservation and restoration of natural populations. A genetic method referred to as parentage-based tagging (PBT) enables highly reliable detection of hatchery-origin fish and inference of multigeneration pedigrees. This study compiles 11 years of PBT data from nearly 125,000 interior stream-type Chinook Salmon from 24 spawning hatcheries located in tributaries of the mid- and upper Columbia River as well as the Salmon, Clearwater, and Grande Ronde River subbasins. Multigenerational pedigrees allowed investigation of the proportion of natural- and hatchery-origin broodstock (pNOB and pHOB, respectively) for each hatchery and enumeration of the scale of production between segregated and integrated programs. We then compared how pHOB and the scale of production influenced the number of stray fish observed, genetic diversity, relatedness, and age-class compositions within broodstocks. Over 91.0% of hatchery broodstock could be assigned back to their parents, and there was an overall rate of less than 1.0% of broodstock that were unintentionally incorporated into nonnatal hatchery programs. We evaluated 14 segregated programs with 0.0–10.0% pNOB, 7 intermediate programs (10.1–50.0% pNOB), and 3 integrated programs (>50.0% pNOB). There was no correlation between the scale of production or pNOB with the level of genetic diversity, but as production size increased, so did the effective number of breeders. This study demonstrates the utility of PBT as a monitoring tool for hatchery broodstocks, and results suggest that segregated and integrated programs have tradeoffs that generally align with their intended broodstock management purpose of providing fish for harvest and/or fish for supplementation or reintroduction.

Horn, Rebekah L.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Density Dependence in Three Snake River Sockeye Salmon Nursery Lakes in Central Idaho

Abstract Snake River Sockeye Salmon Oncorhynchus nerka, listed as an endangered species in 1991, currently inhabit three nursery lakes (Redfish, Pettit, and Alturas lakes) in the Sawtooth Valley, Idaho. Conspecific kokanee (lacustrine Sockeye Salmon) are also present in the lakes. Snake River Sockeye Salmon recovery efforts, initially focused on genetic conservation, are now attempting to rebuild naturally spawning populations using hatchery supplementation. However, in Sockeye Salmon nursery lakes, density dependence is frequently observed when elevated O. nerka abundance leads to declines in zooplankton biomass, body size, and shifts in community composition. In turn, these changes lead to reductions in juvenile O. nerka growth rates, survival, and adult returns. We examined a long-term data set of O. nerka population metrics and associated zooplankton community metrics. We found evidence of density dependence within and among nursery lakes. We detected differences in zooplankton biomass, lengths of preferred zooplankton prey (Daphnia spp. and cyclopoid copepods), parr growth rates, and age-1 smolt size among the three lakes. We found negative relationships between O. nerka density and zooplankton biomass and size. We identified positive relationships between zooplankton biomass and two response variables: smolt size at migration and growth rates of hatchery parr. The relationships were generally similar among lakes. Variable outcomes were a result of differences in O. nerka density (or zooplankton biomass), controlled primarily by the relative proportion of spawning and rearing habitat in each lake. Understanding unique lake habitats, ecological interactions, and the role of density dependence is germane to management of Snake River Sockeye Salmon populations.

Griswold, Robert G.↗